x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
Grinding to regain form, Xander Schauffele embraces ‘dirty golf’ at Valspar
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf

InsideGOLF: +$140 value for $39.99

Join Today
News

Grinding to regain form, Xander Schauffele embraces ‘dirty golf’ at Valspar

By: Josh Sens
  • Follow on Twitter
March 23, 2025
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
PGA Tour pro Xander Schauffele plays a shot on the 14th hole during the first round of the 2025 Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club.

On Sunday at the Valspar Championship, Schauffele showed flashes of his old self.

Getty Images

There are no pictures on Xander Schauffele’s scorecard but there are images in his head. And lately, what he’s seen has not been pretty.

“Gross” was the descriptor Schauffele slapped on his own game after last week’s Players Championship, where he finished 72nd at 13-over par, dead last among golfers who made the cut.

On Sunday at the Valspar Championship, the visuals still weren’t perfect for the No. 3 player in the world, but they improved, and so, it seemed, had Schauffele’s outlook after he posted a 5-under 66 on Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course, in a final round powered by four straight back-nine birdies.

“My brain feels like it’s going to explode after some bad days of golf,” Schauffele said. “But it was sort of nice to end this stretch with a 5-under.”

Everything is relative, of course. And bad days for Schauffele would count as pretty good for many of his peers. Since returning from a rib injury at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, his first start of the 2025 season, Schauffele has gritted his way into the weekend in three straight events on three of the toughest venues on the PGA Tour — a demanding stretch for a player who believes in asking plenty of himself.

As he did last week at TPC Sawgrass, Schauffele put himself through long post-round range sessions at the Valspar, seeking answers to a two-way miss. 

“Sometimes you just want to get out and make a few free swings on the range, whether you snap hook it or blow it a hundred yards right, just to get them out of your system,” he said on Sunday. “So last night was a bit of a frustration session — what am I going to go with today.”

Pounding extra balls has been part of Schauffele’s effort to regain the magic of 2024 when he shed the mantle of ‘best player to never win a major’ by claiming the PGA Championship at Valhalla. He then backed up the achievement by winning the Open Championship at Royal Troon. Those breakthrough wins came under the tutelage of Chris Como, who helped refine the swing that Schauffele had built with his father, Stefan. Though Como was not at the Valspar this week, Schauffele said his coach offered insights over the phone based on videos shared by Schauffele’s caddie, Austin Kaiser. 

“Austin is pretty good on his phone, he can send him swing videos and things of that nature,” Schauffele said. “But unless (Como) is here, it’s hard for him to know what I’m feeling, so that’s where the conversation comes into play.”

For Sunday’s final round, though, Schauffele said he focused more on mindset than mechanics.

“I just felt like I need to get back to me just playing, whether it’s kind of gross golf or dirty golf, just get the ball in the hole,” he said. “Innisbrook is a tough property to be on and it doesn’t matter how pretty you swing it. You just got to bet the ball in the hole no matter what it looks like.”

The next looks Schauffele gets will be of the giant screen at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, where his TGL team, the New York Golf Club, is scheduled to play in the TGL Championship against Atlanta Golf GC starting on Monday night. A little less than two weeks after that, his view will get even more scenic when he makes the drive down Magnolia Lane for the Masters.

Latest In News

1 hour ago

Why Rory McIlroy's Masters win was 'weirdest day ever' for Shane Lowry

3 hours ago

Youtube golfer explains appeal for 'indefinite' PGA Tour suspension for LIV event

3 hours ago

Why Rory McIlroy’s parents missed his emotional Masters win

5 hours ago

In 6 silent minutes, CBS delivered a Masters broadcast masterpiece

Josh Sens

Golf.com Editor

A golf, food and travel writer, Josh Sens has been a GOLF Magazine contributor since 2004 and now contributes across all of GOLF’s platforms. His work has been anthologized in The Best American Sportswriting. He is also the co-author, with Sammy Hagar, of Are We Having Any Fun Yet: the Cooking and Partying Handbook.

  • Author Twitter Account

Related Articles

News
Justin Thomas talks with Xander Schauffele after the first round of the 2024 PGA Championship.

Did Xander Schauffele fix Justin Thomas? Here's what Schauffele says

By: Josh Schrock
Putters
Xander Schauffele's Odyssey Red Seven X.

Odyssey unveils Red Seven X putter | What you need to know

By: Jack Hirsh
News
Michael Kim's only other Masters trip came in 2019.

One pro's Masters dream became another's heartbreak | Monday Finish

By: Dylan Dethier
News
Adam Hadwin bought greens crew lunch in touching gesture after sprinjler-smashing incident.

Pro makes touching gesture to greens crew after sprinkler-smashing incident

By: Kevin Cunningham
News
Viktor Hovland and his caddie Shay Knight walk off the 18th green at the Valspar Championship.

Hovland's 'weird' take, LIV's signal, Ryder Cup tiers | Monday Finish

By: Dylan Dethier
News
Patton Kizzire

‘Wasn’t my putter’s fault’: Tour winner gives his side after viral meltdown

By: Nick Piastowski
Putters
Viktor Hovland lines up a putt at the Valspar.

Viktor Hovland has trusted this Ping putter for 7 wins. Here's how to get yours

By: Jack Hirsh
News
Viktor Hovland at the Valspar Championship

'Hit a lot of disgusting shots:' Viktor Hovland surprised himself in Valspar win

By: Josh Sens
News
Viktor Hovland hits a shot during the 2025 Valspar Championship.

2025 Valspar Championship money: How much every player made

By: Josh Schrock
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version